How to make the cutest character

[Agentt]

So, I recently came across an opinion.
It was regarding those cute pets isekai MCs often have, like a tiny fox or something.
The opinion stated that pet mons who don't serve any purpose other than saying "kyun" are obnoxious.

And I do agree with this actually. There are certain characters who don't serve any purpose to the plot, and only act as a receiver of pats.

While this may be tolerable in mangas and anime, it certainly would break the flow of reading when applied in books. The occasional kyuu is rather necessary, since the cute character has so little screen time and importance, he shall be forgotten if not for the frequent squeals.
His existence is on paper, and is fueled by your attention. He shall not just die, but simply cease to exist if you were to ever forget him. His squishy noises are not of joy, but yelps of help.

I myself find it quite ridiculous that mc meets an elf girl or a witch, who immediately trusts him due to "the fox spirit trusts you, hence you must be a good person."


So, how would you write a perfect cute character? One that's helpful for the plot, and yet is able to brighten the atmosphere.

I believe Megumin from Konusuba comes very close to ideal, due to her own character development and relevance to the plot.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Tomboy in love.

 

[Agentt]

Tomboy in love.

This deserves 2 likes

 

[Layenlml]

I can give you an example. Is a father(kinda) daughter relationship and the girl always makes the other big bad boys turn ridiculus and some other things.

Its called MARVEL: Gamer path.

I love the scene where her dad fights and she dissapears and in the end of the fight she brings the OP cat and says 'She can eat the bad guy' breaking the bad atmosphere.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

If the main character is cute, then all of it circumvented

 

[Ilikewaterkusa]

So, I recently came across an opinion.
It was regarding those cute pets isekai MCs often have, like a tiny fox or something.
The opinion stated that pet mons who don't serve any purpose other than saying "kyun" are obnoxious.

And I do agree with this actually. There are certain characters who don't serve any purpose to the plot, and only act as a receiver of pats.

While this may be tolerable in mangas and anime, it certainly would break the flow of reading when applied in books. The occasional kyuu is rather necessary, since the cute character has so little screen time and importance, he shall be forgotten if not for the frequent squeals.
His existence is on paper, and is fueled by your attention. He shall not just die, but simply cease to exist if you were to ever forget him. His squishy noises are not of joy, but yelps of help.

I myself find it quite ridiculous that mc meets an elf girl or a witch, who immediately trusts him due to "the fox spirit trusts you, hence you must be a good person."


So, how would you write a perfect cute character? One that's helpful for the plot, and yet is able to brighten the atmosphere.

I believe Megumin from Konusuba comes very close to ideal, due to her own character development and relevance to the plot.

Just make all the other characters ugly so the cute one is the cutest by obvious comparison

 

[GodlessEmperor]

Just make all the other characters ugly so the cute one is the cutest by obvious comparison

Ugly bastard harem

 

[Ai-chan]

Ai-chan is cute. Make the character a copy of Ai-chan.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Carefully

 

[Cipiteca396]

The easiest way would be to give all of your characters moments where they can be cute. There's no character who's defining trait is 'Cute, but useless', instead, the cuteness is mixed into the story like sugar in dough.

...Having said that, the answer is to let them contribute to the plot. Even if they're useless in most ways, they can at least say something inciteful, or have a special talent like tracking/detecting falsehoods. Not something that only comes up to drive the plot, mind you, even if that's the main point. If the little fox spirit doesn't trust liars, then it should distrust pretty much everyone, not just the villain of the week. Make it part of the cuteness that it constantly runs away from the love interest since they won't tell the MC they're crushing hard.

 

[Zirrboy]

Ai-chan is cute. Make the character a copy of Ai-chan.

Didn't Tou do that?

 

[Agentt]

Make it part of the cuteness that it constantly runs away from the love interest since they won't tell the MC they're crushing hard.

That would be such a cute introduction to a tsundere

 

[Motsu]

 

[FlitterPuff]

You gotta consider what traits people tend to consider cute, while also having a well-rounded character with goals and character flaws. For example: naivety, smol-ness, clumsiness, liking other cute things, cute appearance/apparel, etc. You can have a character with all of those and still have flaws and goals they want to achieve. Bonus points if you can somehow make their flaws and goals cute as well without ruining their intended purpose. Remember, if a flaw doesn't serve as an obstacle for your character in becoming "better" in some way, often stopping them from reaching their goals, it's not a real flaw. Good flaws have consequences and tie into a theme for your story.

 

[LunaSoltaer]

What tears me up every time is a character who has faced hell, but still squeaks cheerfully and honest-to-fucking pours their little heart out trying to make someone else's... sniff....

*screaming and bawling in a corner*

 

[Zirrboy]

What tears me up every time is a character who has faced hell, but still squeaks cheerfully and honest-to-fucking pours their little heart out trying to make someone else's... sniff....

*screaming and bawling in a corner*